Read an interesting article in MNRA this week about magazines going digityial and the complexities of that.
Some listed were :
Only about half of digitial emailed are opened 59%
Many bounced back due to changed email addresses not updated
Many members still want the hard copies ( I know I do )
Other magazines have found that only 2.5 to 4% subscribe to online magazines.
For discussion - Does this surprise you ? Did you expect there to be a higher subscriber %. Do you think you would prefer a digitial magazine ?
YGW
I've switched most to digital only myself... MRR, MRH, Trains, RMC, R&R, all digital only subscriptions. Only "hard copy" is now NMRA magazine. Off hobby related hard copies are just trial subscriptions, and a magazine our electric company gives us.
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
ricktrains4824 I've switched most to digital only myself... MRR, MRH, Trains, RMC, R&R, all digital only subscriptions.
I've switched most to digital only myself... MRR, MRH, Trains, RMC, R&R, all digital only subscriptions.
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein
http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/
yougottawantaOther magazines have found that only 2.5 to 4% subscribe to online magazines.
I am surprised. I prefer hard copy, I can read it outside in bright sun or in the bath tub.
I find reading large blocks of text on a computer screen, sort of uncomfortable. Hard to explain and certainly I do spend a lot of time doing just that.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
I became used to digital with the 'other' ezine, and that works for their product...for me. I still do enjoy reading a newspaper and a glossy mag holding it in my hands with a cold brewskie within reach.
I did subscribe to the Classic Trains ezine, but never looked at it as I had opted for both...and of course, only read the paper version. So, it lapsed last year.
yougottawantaOnly about half of digitial emailed are opened 59% Many bounced back due to changed email addresses not updated Many members still want the hard copies ( I know I do ) Other magazines have found that only 2.5 to 4% subscribe to online magazines.
assume all these issues are for subscribers who have both hardcopy and electronic versions and many don't look at their electronic copy because they have hardcopy. I don't understand the value of having both types of subscriptions.
What are the statistics for those who only have electronic subscriptions?
yougottawantaDo you think you would prefer a digitial magazine ?
perhaps if it were less expensive.
but because I work all day in front of computer screens, I'd like to have hardcopy I can read in bed, while waiting in the card or while at the kitchen table. Something like a Kindle might be more acceptable than a laptop, so an electronic copy would need to be Kindle compatible.
greg - Philadelphia & Reading / Reading
I've gone all digital and wouldn't go back. I love being able to "carry" all my back issues of MR, Trains, Classic Trains, MRP, GMR, and RMC since 2012 on my iPad. Now if only MR would improve the all access video "scrolling" for the iPad. That's the only reading I have to do on my desktop.
Ray
I love reading all my magazines on my iPad. I can increase the size of the type for better reading.
Saves me from throwing out so many mags into the trash. When I moved about 5 years ago I had over 600 magazines, 200 books that nobody wanted so they ended up in the dump. Tried to recycle them to no avail.
Hard copy for me. Cant stand e books or any thing lke that. Just call me old fashion i guess.
Modeling on the cheap
I am spending a considerable amount of my time staring at a screen and I therefore find it relaxing, being able to retire to a sofa, a hardcopy of my favorite model railroading mag in my hands, having a good time.
No e-zines for me, please!
I have to say that, being a dinosaur, I prefer hard copies for new issues. Having said that, I am fine with digital archives where one is looking for specific articles, but I just find it more comfortable to have the new issues in my hands. I'm not afraid of losing my place if I am looking at a hard copy, and no amount of internet problems can interfere with what I am reading.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
I like the mags...I can settle down on the couch when the other barn animals are lose bashing their sticks and throw fecies from the computer table. Its like a zoo in here and I only got 2 young boys. Its sometimes the only way to quiet them down in the evening.
I have notives a few of the $ wheel driving Magz have gone digital over here...I have tried to get into them but its just not the same...
I read Model railroad hobbiest online but it is still the only magz that seems to get the most out its digital presence.
I suppose I will have to get with the times soon enough but hope the paper keeps on rolling for a bit...I would imagine there will be a fair few jobs lost when the magz stop printing...pulp mills working for peanuts from toilet paper and fish n chips suppliers. I feel a storm coming
Cheers...
Chris from down under...
We're all here because we're not all there...
Geared steam - Thatsa lot of Magazines you belong too. Do you read all of them ?
Drumguy - The NMRA sends out to its member which I assume would trust them a link they can click of for the "Local" That one of teh items I was referring to. In general I was indirectly speaking to Apps, electronic subscritions, PDFs etc...
Greg C wrote -"What are the statistics for those who only have electronic subscriptions?" They didnt address other companies in teh article but I think they said the NMRA was only about 10% ?
D Fortney - Did you consider donating them to your local Library ? Doctors office for kids ? Boyscotts ??
DAVID FORTNEY I love reading all my magazines on my iPad. I can increase the size of the type for better reading. Saves me from throwing out so many mags into the trash. When I moved about 5 years ago I had over 600 magazines, 200 books that nobody wanted so they ended up in the dump. Tried to recycle them to no avail.
David,
Reading you post made me think about a recent experience.
I have a collection of material from a number of fallen flags. This includes menus, timetables, annual reports, marketing materials and even technical information from car builders.
But, I decided it was time to get rid of it so I took it to the hobby shop.
They reviewed everything. They agreed it was an interesting collection, but felt it wasn't worth anything. They really didn't even want it for free.
I'll probably have to resort to your method of disposal one day, but for now I'm keeping it.
yougottawanta Geared steam - Thatsa lot of Magazines you belong too. Do you read all of them ? Drumguy - The NMRA sends out to its member which I assume would trust them a link they can click of for the "Local" That one of teh items I was referring to. In general I was indirectly speaking to Apps, electronic subscritions, PDFs etc... Greg C wrote -"What are the statistics for those who only have electronic subscriptions?" They didnt address other companies in teh article but I think they said the NMRA was only about 10% ? D Fortney - Did you consider donating them to your local Library ? Doctors office for kids ? Boyscotts ?? YGW
I offered them to the library and did leave some in the Drs. office but nobody took them, even put a note on them to please take them home.
The library said they had no room for them so to the trash they went.
Even offered them to a few Ho train clubs for free but no luck there either. The magazines were all train related, MRR, RMC, and several others.
Paper copy thanks!
I stand firmly in the paper camp.
No screen glare, no stupid using 1/3 the screen because its set up for mobil viewing.
It never has server downtime for maintenance.
The weather never knocks it out.
You never forget your password.
Unaffected by the latest DDS attacks on the internet
It has no viruses.
No one can track paper with "cookies".
Last but not least, when dealing with emergencies, using an Ipad as toilet paper just won't work.
yougottawantaGeared steam - Thatsa lot of Magazines you belong too. Do you read all of them ?
Of course I do! :)
Mostly in the evening before I go to sleep and on airplanes.
I wish the Gazette would begin to offer a digital prescription (I have the DVD Bob Hayden released)
I've gone all digital. Would not want to go back to hard copy.
I prefer digital. No issues with late delivery by the post office, no damage in transit, my own fault if I drop my I-Pad in a snowbank....not a fan of the postal service!
Printed is the only way I can read in a comfortable fashion.
Sometimes, at 35,000ft, while traveling, the internet might be down; then what.
Books and magazines do not need WiFi nor batteries.
All the best.
Joe F
Going on record to say that I despise digital on-line magazines. I believe most magazines...especially model railroad and railfan are read while on the crapper. Sure you can take your laptop or kindle with you, but most bathrooms have magazine racks....certainly not condusive for storage of expensive lap top for that most revered moment of the day.
Plus I'm a dinosaur and damn proud of it.
HZ
Orginal Poster's words in quotes:
"Only about half of digitial emailed are opened 59%"
Are they saying half of the digital versions they send out aren't read? Could be multiple reasons. Is there more than one way to read the digital version? I don't always read MR (Model Railroader) on my tablet, sometimes on my computer via All-Access (not the digital download). That is more because of problems with the Android APP that MR chose not my preference for reading electronic versions. So if subscribers can get it via an archive online, as we can for various NMRA newsletters, they may be gettiing it there instead. I am an NMRA member but do not get the magazine in either form.
"Many bounced back due to changed email addresses not updated"
E-mails can get rejected for so many reasons, how do they know that is the reason?
"Many members still want the hard copies ( I know I do )"
I got MR in both forms for a year before going all digital. All those back issues take up way too much room than can better be used for Model Railroads.
"Other magazines have found that only 2.5 to 4% subscribe to online magazines."
I would love to see that compared to age of the subscriber.
Two other notes:
Some people seemed confused on the concept of the digital edition, specifically, that you need a WiFi or Internet connection to read it. That is like saying you need to go to the mailbox in front of your house everytime you want to read your hardcopy edition. You connect to the Internet (either through hardwire or WiFi) one
time to download it, then it is on your computer or tablet.
If you are going to use a tablet to view a magazine, I highly recommend a minimum 10" version. Especially for those of you like me whose eyesight isn't what it used to be.
Cheers
Maurice
Dave - I find that surprising. The libraries ariund here take them in because school kids need stuff they can cut pictures and articles out of for school projects. Shame no kids doctors office will take them it would be a great way to introduce the hobby to the next generation
G Steam - WOW that is a lot of reading. Does that have any impact on your eye sight ?
NevinW - What is it about digitial you enjoy ?
HZane - LOL Proud Dinasaour ? Not making fun but it caught me off gaurd and made me laugh out loud. Now everyone is wondering what I am up to !
Maurice - The facts I gave are from Charlie Getz ( sp? ) from an article in the NMRA magazine - I do not know how he arrived at his info but you could contact him and ask.
Chessie - you know the part about batteries in my case I am not sure applies, seems like every time I sit down to read my MRR that my batteries die and next thing I know the alarm clock is going off !!
Unfortunately, the NMRA leadership seems to have a strong bias against digital media in general and has not really supplied hard figures to back up that prejudice -- only unattributed generalizations.
There is a wide variety of digital publications available to model railroaders. The quality of the content varies from awful to excellent, and some of their distribution methods are haphazard at best. Much of this information, particularly from the historical societies, would not be easily available if it were not for digital publishing. There are standards available for internet publishers to determine their circulation and readership, and they are not difficult to follow.
All that said, after several decades in print media myself, I really like the convenience of paper publications. The maintenance needs are pretty simple for someone who can come up with a cool, dark and dry storage space though I recognize space is a luxury for many people.
I tend to weed out unneeded magazines and books after several years. The fact that I have well-defined modeling interests helps quite a bit in this. It isn't hard where I live to find a place to donate the common magazines, and I can find buyers for the specialty magazines and books.
Graham Line your statement above is incorrect on the following statement
"NMRA leadership seems to have a strong bias against digital media in general"
Charlie Getz with the NMRA is moving forward full steam with digitial media. I did not restate the entire article which was several pages long, but in repeating the essence of his article, the numbers just dont make sense right now. He did say that when the numbers do make sense they would make the move forward with digitial media.I would encourage you to read the entire article so that you can get the full scope and breath of his comments and the direction they are going. Since he has come aboard they have made tremendous steps forward. Much still needs to be done and they are moving forward as time,money and volunteers step forward. I find it a refreshing change from "the hobby is dieing crowd" which I believe to be incorrect that I used to hear so much. Its not dieing. Just changing.
I have read the article and heard NMRA officials speak on the subject more than once.
GoGo internet is available on most airplanes ,plus the issuse can be saved on your device.
Battery life is never an issue with my Ipad, they last all day, very easily.
Howard Zane Going on record to say that I despise digital on-line magazines. I believe most magazines...especially model railroad and railfan are read while on the crapper. Sure you can take your laptop or kindle with you, but most bathrooms have magazine racks....certainly not condusive for storage of expensive lap for that most revered moment of the day. Plus I'm a dinosaur and damn proud of it. HZ
Going on record to say that I despise digital on-line magazines. I believe most magazines...especially model railroad and railfan are read while on the crapper. Sure you can take your laptop or kindle with you, but most bathrooms have magazine racks....certainly not condusive for storage of expensive lap for that most revered moment of the day.
Howard
So basically the magazine portion of our hobby is only used in the bathroom, and this is why the good folks at Kalmbach, White River and Bob Brown make their livelyhood?
I guess that time spent increases with age.